Do you want to play games online but aren't too familiar with what's currently out there or how to get started? Here's a quick overview.
Most online games are free, supported mostly by ads, though some games charge users for premium features. Casual games are the most popular because they are user-friendly, easy to learn and can usually be completed in 10 minutes or less. Massively multiplayer online games are fast gaining popularity and are the next major potential game market. Recent surveys conducted by Nielson show that 72.5% of households in the US have broadband connections. Homes with broadband connections are naturally the hottest target for online games. Also advances in software technology, especially the introduction of Java and Flash, have given a boost to playing games online. Here's a summary of the various online gaming options now available --
--Online First Person Shooter Games
These games allow you to enjoy an arena style of play whereby you take on your competitor head-to-head. Since the introduction of DOOM in the early 90's this type of online gaming has become extremely popular among the younger teenagers. What makes it a rage is its amazing graphics featuring exciting armed combat scenarios, deadly arsenals, and a cast of nefarious enemies to shoot at. Kids worldwide have been thrilled with the release of Doom 3, Far Cry, Halo2 and others. Another, older online game, also of the first person shooter type, is what has been described as "The best game ever" by the PC Gamer Magazine. In Half Life 2 the player is tasked with saving Earth from deadly aliens who have attacked our world. It has won more than 100 gaming awards. Another popular game is The Jackal, which takes you to Africa in the search of a mysterious killer. To succeed in your mission you have to exploit and play on the weaknesses of various warlords through crafting plots, using force and planning surprise attacks.
--Strategic Games
Another way to play games online is real time strategic games, which match you against other players or you can join a group or a board and form lobbies in the game rooms. Some popular options to select from are Pokemon indigo, where you can team up with as many as 6 members and battle your rivals to prove your team's supremacy. This is a free game and can be played indefinitely. Another award-winning game is Microsoft Age of Empires, where players have to build up their tribes' wealth and civilization by waging and winning war, thereby adding to their wealth. If you are a Star Trek movie fan, then Netrek is the game for you where two teams representing two different forces fight for control over the galaxy by combating enemy spaceships and conquering planets.
--Web Browser-Based Games
With the advancement in web technologies like JSP, HTML, Flash and Java, complex web browser-based games were created by developers which use Windows Explorer web browser as a client. These are mostly single player games where a user can create huge scores, but nowadays many multi player games are also being developed. The biggest advantage of these games is that they do not require any software installation at your end. The most popular of the browser-based online games is the famous arcade game Pac Man. Other free arcade games can be searched at medterracbd.com. Browser- based pet games are also very popular, such as Neopets an Net Pet where you can "virtually" adopt and play with your own pet. You can even buy them collars, food, toys and the like. This type of game is a big hit among grade-school-age children who play games online.
--Massively Multiplayer Online Games
As said, high speed broadband access has created a huge market for massively multiplayer online games (MMOG's) where people from all over the world can login and play simultaneously. There are various types of MMOG games, the most popular being massively multiplayer online role playing games or MMORPG. The best example of MMORPG is Cyberdunk, the basketball MMORPG where you can be a player, a trainer or even own your own basketball team. As in any role playing game you have fictitious "avatars" whose looks and actions can be controlled by you. If you want to, you can outfit your avatars with training equipment and different accessories. The various players can even interact with each other. Some MMORPGS are also based on fantasy themes like sword fights, comic characters and even science fiction. Already, this sector of the gaming business is taking in a cool billion bucks a year.
Another popular type of MMOG is MMORTS or massively multiplayer online real time strategy games. Like in strategic games, people can form groups and teams. Maybe you can even appoint yourself head of the team or General of the Army. The first MMORTS game was developed in 1998, called Mankind. It let you be a miner, mercenary, warrior or merchant, in each case involved in a quest to build an empire. Another popular MMORTS is Shattered Galaxy which was developed by Nexon Inc, Japan, and is a sci-fi type adventure game. At present, there is a fast-emerging concept of browser-based MMOG's which are a comparatively cheaper way to play games online than the original MMOGs available in the market.
After a long hectic busy day, games plays an important role to relax frayed nerves, scorched eyes and tired ears. Playing games is considered as one of the best way to be entertained oneself. Unlike traditional games, the latest online games have brought revolution in different segment of society. As a matter fact, these internet based games can be played among children, youth, professional as well as aged people. While talking about online games, there are many games for everyone, as they are blended with the regal of redefined fun, alluring excitement and in a nut shell epitomising the lighter side of life.
Playing online game is a new concept in the internet revolution. Some years from now, options for having fun inside home were fairly limited. But with the tremendous advancement in IT technology, things have changed drastically in favour of users. With an outcome of online games, things have turned to one hundred and eighty degrees. As a matter of fact, the users can now play thousands of free games on their computer or laptop, provided they must have fast Internet connection. This online game mode can be accessed, across the globe.
The internet is considered as the best tool for the avid players, youth and children in finding latest and lucrative games. The Internet games ranges from action and adventure to puzzle and arcade games. In addition, games based on the sports, strategy or shooting usually attract the users with new altitude of thrill and excitement. The wide array of games is no longer confined to action or board games, but a this online game world has opened even up to the Casinos. Among many games, some of them are interactive in nature as they make it possible for the player to play with anyone across the world. Therefore, depending upon the choice and preferences, one can choose any game from a wide range of simple text based games to complex graphics and virtual worlds.
Apart from varied range of games, online gaming companies also pay much attention to the quality of games provided to their customers and offer them to play online pages. Playing games online brings a massive amount of revenue for the gaming industry. Undoubtedly, this has enabled the industry-experienced people to come up with the latest online games to attract the wide segment of users. Many online games are associated with a virtual community and makes the online games a form of social activity beyond a single player. As a matter of fact, online game websites provide different rooms where the player know his team-mates and can play with them, whenever he feels like. Moreover, the making of games have become so popular that technical schools have come up with the special courses related to online games.
The rising popularity of online flash games or Macromedia flash games have led to an Internet revolution. This Macromedia flash games in the websites utilise features such as streaming video, audio, and a whole new set of user interactivity. Most online games such as World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI, and Lineage II are some of the games for which users are charged a monthly fee for subscribing the services, while online games such as Guild Wars do not require any subscription fees. Some of the online game sites rely on advertising revenues from on-site sponsors, while others such as RuneScape, allow people play for free.
The "next generation" players enjoy playing online games. They feel these flash games will become a standard in society in comparison to board games. Playing games online is a real fun and exciting, no matter what you play. On an average, avid player spends many hours playing on the internet.
If you did offer a discount or some other incentive for these two recently passed shopping days play games online then you likely have a lot of abandoned carts or lead contacts that didn't turn into clients or customers.
In online marketing, remarketing has become a great way to reach back out to people who expressed interest in what you do but for one reason or another never actually became a paying client.
If you examine who contacted you and what happened in between them contacting you or trying to make a purchase and them leaving without converting (this is when they become a client or customer) then you will see many opportunities to address what can be understood as gaps in the user experience.
Was your shipping too high? Was the way you contacted a potential lead too aggressive or too passive? Those leads would have become paying clients without that gap.
So fill the gap! Growing based on feedback is how good business evolves. Take the information and learn from it and then apply it.
The analogy many adhere to is a leaky bucket. If you have a leak in the bucket you should repair that leak before adding more water. Consider the holidays a coming storm with flood warnings!
Now if you have a repository of emails to reference you can draft an announcement about the change so it not only stops presenting a barrier for future leads, you've also let old failed leads know that you've changed and they can return for a better experience.
How you go about reviewing falloff from lead to client will vary depending on your business. B2C e-commerce will be quite different than a site designed for lead generation, but the reaction approach and remarketing remain the same.
Set Up Your Marketing NOW
If you haven't already got your holiday marketing set up, you should start right away.
Things like your newsletter, social posting, content marketing and any other distractions from customer service should be set up to send on a schedule and then left alone while you focus on the customer.
In reality, having this work done in October is ideal but better late than never!
Don't switch gears now on what tools you use but definitely set up a December schedule where all your sales and products and services are out there for everyone to find.
You miss all the shots you don't take so now is the time to start sending out those emails and posting to your Twitter account!
Get in the Spirit
It can be tough to navigate political correctness and the holiday season. Depending on your market and locality, having "Merry Christmas" can endear you to leads or throw up a flag.
You'll know best which is right for you, but at the very least a cheery-themed website header update and associated social profile updates would be a great idea.
If you need help with this, get in touch and we'll make sure you have professional social media profiles set up.
Do you have a roster of loyal clients you love? Let them know!
Do your due diligence on your clients and feel out how they approach the season. Then craft your materials and messaging so it aligns with their expectations for the season.
If you have an office party, take lots of pictures and get them on Instagram. Then when you have the more settled, posed for pictures you can add a gallery to Facebook.
Presenting your business in a positive way and showing off the staff having fun never hurts and clients like to see the people they're trusting with their money or their business as happy.
This kind of year can be very stressful and it shouldn't be. Whether you sell a product or provide a service, try and enjoy yourself so you don't run yourself ragged and ruin your own opportunities to make new contacts and purchases.
Susan Friesen, founder of the award-winning web development and digital marketing firm eVision Media, is a Web Specialist, Business & Marketing Consultant, and Social Media Advisor. She works with entrepreneurs who struggle with having the lack of knowledge, skill and support needed to create their online business presence. As a result of working with Susan and her team, clients feel confident and relieved knowing their online marketing is in trustworthy and caring hands so they can focus on building their business with peace of mind at having a perfect support system in place to guide them every step of the way.
Do you want to play games online but aren't too familiar with what's currently out there or how to get started? Here's a quick overview.
Most online games are free, supported mostly by ads, though some games charge users for premium features. Casual games are the most popular because they are user-friendly, easy to learn and can usually be completed in 10 minutes or less. Massively multiplayer online games are fast gaining popularity and are the next major potential game market. Recent surveys conducted by Nielson show that 72.5% of households in the US have broadband connections. Homes with broadband connections are naturally the hottest target for online games. Also advances in software technology, especially the introduction of Java and Flash, have given a boost to playing games online. Here's a summary of the various online gaming options now available --
--Online First Person Shooter Games
These games allow you to enjoy an arena style of play whereby you take on your competitor head-to-head. Since the introduction of DOOM in the early 90's this type of online gaming has become extremely popular among the younger teenagers. What makes it a rage is its amazing graphics featuring exciting armed combat scenarios, deadly arsenals, and a cast of nefarious enemies to shoot at. Kids worldwide have been thrilled with the release of Doom 3, Far Cry, Halo2 and others. Another, older online game, also of the first person shooter type, is what has been described as "The best game ever" by the PC Gamer Magazine. In Half Life 2 the player is tasked with saving Earth from deadly aliens who have attacked our world. It has won more than 100 gaming awards. Another popular game is The Jackal, which takes you to Africa in the search of a mysterious killer. To succeed in your mission you have to exploit and play on the weaknesses of various warlords through crafting plots, using force and planning surprise attacks.
--Strategic Games
Another way to play games online is real time strategic games, which match you against other players or you can join a group or a board and form lobbies in the game rooms. Some popular options to select from are Pokemon indigo, where you can team up with as many as 6 members and battle your rivals to prove your team's supremacy. This is a free game and can be played indefinitely. Another award-winning game is Microsoft Age of Empires, where players have to build up their tribes' wealth and civilization by waging and winning war, thereby adding to their wealth. If you are a Star Trek movie fan, then Netrek is the game for you where two teams representing two different forces fight for control over the galaxy by combating enemy spaceships and conquering planets.
--Web Browser-Based Games
With the advancement in web technologies like JSP, HTML, Flash and Java, complex web browser-based games were created by developers which use Windows Explorer web browser as a client. These are mostly single player games where a user can create huge scores, but nowadays many multi player games are also being developed. The biggest advantage of these games is that they do not require any software installation at your end. The most popular of the browser-based online games is the famous arcade game Pac Man. Other free arcade games can be searched at medterracbd.com. Browser- based pet games are also very popular, such as Neopets an Net Pet where you can "virtually" adopt and play with your own pet. You can even buy them collars, food, toys and the like. This type of game is a big hit among grade-school-age children who play games online.
--Massively Multiplayer Online Games
As said, high speed broadband access has created a huge market for massively multiplayer online games (MMOG's) where people from all over the world can login and play simultaneously. There are various types of MMOG games, the most popular being massively multiplayer online role playing games or MMORPG. The best example of MMORPG is Cyberdunk, the basketball MMORPG where you can be a player, a trainer or even own your own basketball team. As in any role playing game you have fictitious "avatars" whose looks and actions can be controlled by you. If you want to, you can outfit your avatars with training equipment and different accessories. The various players can even interact with each other. Some MMORPGS are also based on fantasy themes like sword fights, comic characters and even science fiction. Already, this sector of the gaming business is taking in a cool billion bucks a year.
Another popular type of MMOG is MMORTS or massively multiplayer online real time strategy games. Like in strategic games, people can form groups and teams. Maybe you can even appoint yourself head of the team or General of the Army. The first MMORTS game was developed in 1998, called Mankind. It let you be a miner, mercenary, warrior or merchant, in each case involved in a quest to build an empire. Another popular MMORTS is Shattered Galaxy which was developed by Nexon Inc, Japan, and is a sci-fi type adventure game. At present, there is a fast-emerging concept of browser-based MMOG's which are a comparatively cheaper way to play games online than the original MMOGs available in the market.